ksu excellence in actionECIS - Research & Conference Presentations

Using Curriculum-Based Assessments for Accountability

Researchers from Kent State University are currently conducting a very important study on the Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System (AEPS®) and how such a curriculum-based assessment can be use to meet federal and state accountability mandates. You are being contacted because you and/or your staff are currently using or plan to use the AEPS®.

This research project is critical because our field knows that using curriculum-based assessments like the AEPS® can lead to improved outcomes for children. Specifically we know that higher quality IFSP/IEPs can be written, that more accurate programming can take place, and children's progress over time can be monitored. Currently, state and federal agencies are increasingly asking professional team members to report child progress and be accountable to meeting state/federal mandates. We are hoping to provide evidence to support the continued use of curriculum-based assessments and meet these increasing accountability mandates. By providing us with completed AEPS® Child Observation Data Recording Forms (on paper or online), we will be able to study the use of the curriculum-based assessments for all children and to meet accountability mandates while improving services to young children.

If you have families who are willing to participate in this critical research please complete the following steps no later than May 12, 2006.If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me, Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak (kprettif@kent.edu).

To participate you can submit a single completed AEPS® or as many as you like. Any level of participation is appreciated. If you have questions or concerns about the study, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. All forms you will need can be downloaded and duplicated or we can send packets directly to you.

Participation Steps:

Step One: Determine for whom the AEPS® Second Edition was completed or will be completed

  • Any dates from the past are acceptable NOW through May 12, 2006
  • If you administer the AEPS® more than one time a year or more than one time on a given child, please consider sending copies of completed Child
  • Observation Data Recording Forms for each administration period (i.e., time 1, time 2, and time 3).

Step Two: Read and if willing, sign and return the teacher/early interventionist consent form.

Step Three: Contact families of children who they have or will complete the AEPS®. Families are to read and if willing, sign the caregiver/parent consent form. They are to return the signed consent forms directly to you.

Step Four: Mail completed teacher/early interventionist and caregiver/parent consent forms to Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak (kprettif@kent.edu) at Kent State University. If pre-addressed stamped envelopes are needed, they can be made available.

Step Five: Complete the Basic Information Form for each child who has signed parent/caregiver consent and a completed AEPS® Child Observation Data Recording Form (online version). The Basic Information Form can also be completed online. Directions for accessing the AEPS® Child Observation Data Recording Form online can be obtained by clicking here.

Step Six: Copy and mail completed paper versions of the AEPS® Child Observation Data Recording Form to Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak at Kent State University. Again, if pre-addressed stamped envelopes are needed, they can be made available.

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Linking Assessment, IFSPs/IEPs, and Curricula in Preschool Environments is a national study designed to examine  preschool teachers use of child assessment tools, their thoughts about the IFSP/IEP process, and issues surrounding curricula.  Thanks to all those who participated in the study. We are currently analyzing results and will post them soon. Please visit back.

Conferences

Celebrating Three Decades of IDEAs: OSEP National Early Childhood Conference - December 2005